MNMA Pemba Campus

Assessing the Socio-Economic and Ecological Impacts of Fishing Intensity in Bagamoyo, Tanzania: A Community-Based Perspective.

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Assessing the Socio-Economic and Ecological Impacts of Fishing Intensity in Bagamoyo, Tanzania: A Community-Based Perspective. Msambichaka, Sixbert Joachim Small-scale fisheries along the Tanzanian coast are increasingly shaped by rising fishing intensity, with far-reaching ecological and socio-economic consequences for coastal livelihoods. While national policies promote sustainable and community-based fisheries management, less is known about how the artisanal fishers themselves perceive fishing intensity, how this awareness relates to observed ecological change, and whether it translates into meaningful socio-economic and behavioural responses. Addressing this gap, this study applies the social-ecological systems (SES) framework to examine the relationships between fishers’ awareness of fishing intensity, the perceived ecological impacts, income outcomes, and adaptive strategies in Bagamoyo District, Tanzania. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 357 artisanal fishers across four coastal wards (Dunda, Zinga, Kaole, and Mlingotini), selected from official fisher registers. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, Pearson correlations, binary logistic regression, and chi-square tests to assess how awareness of fishing intensity relates to ecological observations, fishing income, and adaptation behaviours. The results show that awareness of fishing intensity was high (74%), with most of the respondents reporting declining fish stocks (90%) and a substantial proportion noting the disappearance of multiple species (35%). Binary logistic regression identified years of fishing experience (OR=1.13, p=0.004), species loss (OR=1.92, p=0.003), and education level (OR=1.36, p=0.039) as significant predictors of awareness. ANOVA revealed significant income differences by awareness (F=6.34, p=0.014), while correlations showed negative links between income and species loss (r=-0.32, p<0.05). Chi-square tests linked awareness to gear substitution (χ2=5.12, p=0.024) and reduced effort (χ2=6.34, p=0.012), but not alternative livelihoods (χ2=2.01, p=0.156). These findings reveal a key social–ecological paradox: despite the widespread awareness of ecological decline, adaptive capacity remains constrained, and fishing intensity persists. By empirically linking ecological perceptions, income dynamics, and behavioural responses, the study demonstrates how awareness functions as a critical but insufficient mediator within a constrained SES. The study contributes novel micro-level evidence from an under-studied East African context and highlights the need for fisheries policies that move beyond awareness-raising to address structural barriers, including limited livelihood alternatives, education, and institutional support, in order to enhance socio-ecological resilience in small-scale fisheries. Article

Tracking Pathways to Recovery from Climate Shocks and Resilience Enhancement

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Tracking Pathways to Recovery from Climate Shocks and Resilience Enhancement Yanda, Pius Z.; Mabhuye, Edmund B.; Mwajombe, Anselm R.; Msambichaka, Sixbert J. Climate change is increasingly becoming a threat to a wide range of community livelihoods in the agro-pastoral systems across scales. Hence, recovery from impacts caused by climate change requires rational decisions, particularly how resources and activities can be mobilized to enhance resilience. In this paper, we track pathways to recovery from such climate shocks in the agro-pastoral systems in three villages; Naitolia, MwakiniJuu and MswakiniChini in northern Tanzania. A mixed methods approach was used that entailed 120 questionnaire respondents and three focus group discussion sessions, one in each village. Our findings show that livelihood assets and activities are inadequate to buffer the impacts of climate change. Despite rules and regulations that guide resource utilization; communities will continue facing climate related impacts. This is due to inherent cultural dispositions that hinder transformation from one form of livelihood assets to the other. This restricts the reception of new frontiers of experiential knowledge that would allow for livelihood diversification outside the climate dependence scenario even after the occurrence of climate hazards. We argue that any attempt of building the resilience of any social-ecological system must consider the cultural backgrounds of the communities in which resilience building is sought. Article

Shrinking Waters of Lake Rukwa Basin, Tanzania: Remote Sensing Insights and Implications for Catchment Management (1994–2024)

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Shrinking Waters of Lake Rukwa Basin, Tanzania: Remote Sensing Insights and Implications for Catchment Management (1994–2024) Msambichaka, Sixbert Joachim Lake Rukwa, one of Tanzania’s most important endorheic lakes, has shrunk dramatically over the past three decades due to climate variability, sedimentation, and human-induced land use change. This study applied multi temporal remote sensing using Landsat imagery from 1994, 2004, 2014, and 2024, supported by Sentinel-2 and Google Earth Pro validation. The Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) was used to delineate lake surface area, while the Normalized Difference Turbidity Index (NDTI) served as a proxy for sedimentation at major river inflows. Land use and land cover (LULC) changes were classified with a Random Forest algorithm. Results reveal a net loss of about 65,000 hectares of lake surface area, with the sharpest decline between 2004 and 2014 at –0.68 percent per year. Extensive deforestation, estimated at 700,000 hectares, and cropland expansion exceeding 500,000 hectares have intensified soil erosion and sediment inflows. Rising NDTI values in rivers such as the Songwe (0.08 to 0.24) confirm worsening turbidity. These pressures have accelerated sediment accumulation, reduced water depth, and destabilized the lake’s hydrological balance. The findings highlight human-driven catchment degradation as the dominant driver of Lake Rukwa’s decline. Mitigation requires basin-level reforestation, erosion control, and sustainable water abstraction, supported by integrated monitoring and adaptive management strategies.. Article

Perceptions and Reality of Overfishing: Evaluating Shifts in Fish Species Composition and Livelihood Impacts on Pemba Island, Zanzibar

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Perceptions and Reality of Overfishing: Evaluating Shifts in Fish Species Composition and Livelihood Impacts on Pemba Island, Zanzibar Msambichaka, Sixbert Joachim This study was conducted at Pemba Island, Zanzibar. It evaluated the perceived effects of overfishing on shifts in the species composition of fish. 368 people who engage in fishing related activities participated in a cross-sectional survey and gave different perspectives on ecological change and their local experiences. The results showed that 55.2% of those surveyed said that the species of fish has reduced significantly in the last several years. A substantial contributing factor that was linked to a 25.2% rise in the probability of documented species changes was overfishing. Residence, marital status, gender, years of fishing experience, and frequency of fishing were additional significant factors. The likelihood of these changes being perceived was lower among infrequent fishermen, but higher among older male fishers, urban dwellers, and those with greater fishing experience. Pemba Island's marine resources to remain ecologically and economically sustainable, the study emphasises the urgent need for inclusive and sustainable fisheries management systems that incorporate local knowledge and address the social aspects of overfishing. Article